Davies rakes up a storm

Davies' ball was blocked by a rake

By BBC Sport's Kitrina Douglas

When I first joined the tour, we had a rule that bunker rakes should be placed in the bunker after smoothing the sand.

That way the rake would not stop the ball of any following player from going into the sand traps.

After Sunday's events, I bet Laura Davies wishes that rule were still in force.

Unfortunately for Laura, her ball was blocked by a rake placed outside the bunker on the first hole by a caddie in the preceding group.

As I drove to the course on Sunday, all I could see was men rushing up the hill from the Sunningdale station.

It meant she was presented with an impossible shot - and she eventually took a six.

Knowing that she needed birdies at the opening holes to stand a chance of winning this year's Open, the incident took the wind out of her sails.

Throughout the week I've been contrasting some of the differences between the men's and women's Opens.

At Lytham, every group of players was accompanied by a member of the green keeper's association, walking the course with rake in hand.

This eradicated the chances of a Davies-like incident.

It is often thought that it is mainly women who come to watch the Women's British Open.

But I have a completely different perception of the make-up of the crowd after watching this year's event.

As I drove to the course on Sunday, all I could see were men rushing up the hill from the Sunningdale station.

Compared to the lockers provided for the American tournaments - which you could almost live in - these could hold only a fraction of the equipment

It could have been a mass of football fans had not each person carried the obligatory rucksack on their back.

Being a British golf event, these packs were probably stuffed full of waterproof clothing.

The other difference between the men's and women's events is the size of the players' lockers.

Here at Sunningdale, they are approximately one foot square.

I couldn't resist asking Trish Johnson whether she used hers to put the right shoe in or the left.

Compared to the lockers provided for the American tournaments - which you could almost live in - these could hold only a fraction of the equipment required by most players.

Soon it may not only be the spectators who have to carry their rucksacks around the golf course.